Definition of Contig

Contig: Contiguous sequence of DNA created by assembling overlapping sequenced fragments of a chromosome. A group of clones representing overlapping regions of the genome.

A contig is a chromosome map showing the locations of those regions of a chromosome where contiguous DNA segments overlap. Contig maps are important because they provide the ability to study a complete, and often large, segment of the genome by examining a series of overlapping clones which then provide an unbroken succession of information about that region.